chut
/ʃy/
The French way to say "sh" is chut.
chut is an interjection used to command silence or to tell someone to be quiet.
Meaning: self-harm (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
chut is an informal way to tell someone to be quiet and can be perceived as blunt or slightly rude depending on the tone.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃy/
Did you know?
- Using chut in a professional setting can be seen as a significant social faux pas, as it strips away the hierarchy between speakers.
- The word chut is an onomatopoeia, meaning it is designed to mimic the actual sound of the wind or a soft breath used to hush someone.
- French has a specific related verb, chuté, which comes from chuter meaning 'to fall'. While the sounds are similar, they are completely unrelated, creating a common point of confusion for beginners learning the phonetics.
Examples in context
- Chut ! Il dort !Sh! He's sleeping!This sentence is useful for seeing how to use chut to request silence when someone is sleeping.Tatoeba #4602613 by sacredceltic, translation #6021868 by Theocracy
- Chut ! J'essaie de me concentrer.Sh! I am trying to concentrate.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are in a quiet library.
- EmmaChut, Nathan ! C'est une bibliothèque.Shh, Nathan! This is a library.
- NathanDésolé, je ne savais pas.Sorry, I didn't know.
- EmmaS'il te plaît, parle moins fort.Please, speak more quietly.
- NathanD'accord, je fais attention.Okay, I'll be careful.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry chut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
